The Liberty County Board of Education is taking steps toward finding a new superintendent using a familiar search firm.  

It will again use the services of the Georgia School Board Association, which recommended current superintendent Dr. Valya Lee, whose contract ends June 30.

Board members heard from Dr. Sam King, training and curriculum manager of GSBA, during an April 4 called meeting, where he discussed the process of finding a superintendent.

The first step is establishing criteria for the search, he said.

“You (board members) create, through a survey that we send to you and give feedback on, what you want for your next chief executive officer,” King said. “What are the major components of your strategic plan that will impact the kind of individual that you want to lead your district? That is job one for us.”

King said GSBA can also create a community survey to get input from the public on what they want in a superintendent. Board member Carol Guyett suggested also having separate surveys for school governance teams and employees.

After the surveys are completed, GSBA will use the feedback to put together a job announcement and application.

King said the GSBA is affiliated with groups that can help with the superintendent search, such as the National Affiliation of Superintendent Searchers and National School Board Association.